Breaking down different types of blood donations

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. Becoming a donor is easy and can make a significant impact on your community.

Blood contains several components — red cells, platelets and plasma — that can offer different benefits to patients in need. The most common type of donation is a whole blood donation.

“We insert a needle in your arm, and you fill up a bag that potentially could go up to three different recipients, depending on how we manufacture that blood product,”says Dr. Justin Juskewitch, associate medical director of the Blood Donor Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

For the red blood cell part of a whole blood donation, Type O is considered the universal donor because those red blood cells can go to anyone, regardless of blood type.

During plasma and platelet donations, donors are hooked up to a machine which separates blood components and returns unused components to the donor. Platelet and plasma donations can help as many as three patients each.

Plasma is commonly given to people in emergency and trauma situations to help stop bleeding. Platelets are commonly given to people with cancer or someone having major surgery.

Juskewitch says donating blood products doesn’t just benefit patients in need, it also benefits those who give.

“This is the opportunity in which they can literally save someone’s life. This is the one part of medicine in which nearly everyone in the community can be part of someone’s medical care.”

DREAMSTIME/TNS According to a recent study, eating grapes may protect you against ultraviolet skin damage.